First Polio Case Reported in GB as National Tally Reaches 11

News Desk

Islamabad: Pakistan has reported its first-ever polio case from Gilgit-Baltistan, raising fresh concerns about the continued spread of the virus across the country.

According to the details, the latest case has been confirmed in a 23-month-old child from the Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan. The National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad has verified that the national tally of polio cases has now reached 11 this year.

Health officials fear that the detection of the virus in a new region could indicate a wider spread of polio, despite ongoing eradication efforts.

Meanwhile, in Punjab, a week-long anti-polio campaign concluded successfully in Faisalabad. The Health Department reported that over 1.5 million children, including those from guest families, were administered oral polio vaccine (OPV) drops during the campaign.

However, 28,931 children were not available at home during the drive, the department said, noting that the target was to vaccinate approximately 1.6 million children in the district.

Health authorities have reiterated their commitment to polio eradication and called on parents and communities to cooperate fully with vaccination teams in upcoming campaigns.